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Galleries

“Spirit of the West” Exhibition

March 4 – May 20, 2026

The MAIN, 24266 Main St, Santa Clarita, CA 91321

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition, “Spirit of the West,”on view in the First Floor Gallery at City Hall (23920 Valencia Boulevard) now through May 20, 2026. This juried showcase celebrates the legacy, landscapes and cultural imagery of the American West, inviting viewers to reflect on its history, traditions and evolving identity. From desert vistas and rugged terrain to horses and frontier life, “Spirit of the West” explores the stories and symbolism that continue to shape Western identity while highlighting its influence on contemporary artistic expression.

Among the featured artists is Xu Joseph Zhou, whose work reflects a deep connection to the landscapes of the American West. “From open deserts to coastal horizons and mountain ranges, I am continually moved by the scale, light and quiet strength of these environments,” Zhou shares, describing them as symbols of “freedom, resilience and possibility.” Interpreting Western scenery through the lens of Eastern painting philosophy, he seeks to convey Qi, “the vital energy that animates nature and all living things.” By combining mineral pigments and acrylic with layered textures and fluid brushwork, Zhou creates a dialogue between cultures while reflecting his personal journey of belonging within the land he paints.

The exhibiting artists include: Faye Abharian, Rosalie Kessing Annison, Jed R Baguio, Lisa Barr, Claudia Buchinsky, Craig Cartwright, Elizabeth Chislett, Tina Chong, Alex Marie Coons, Susan Contrerad, Helaine Cummins, Ginger DeValue, Joe Doherty, Zachary Dominguez, Meghann Flaherty, Rich Gallego, Meryl Goudey, Keiji Ichikawa, Tim Song Jones, Allison Lauricella, Jennifer Tang Limon, Mary Main, Mark Micchio, Weston Middleton, John Moffitt, Laurie Morgan, Nancy Perkins, Sally Raskoff, Lisa Schindewolf, Maria A Schneider, Carolyn Sell, Rose Smither, Jayme Sun Thomas, Nicki Voss, Therese Verner, Xu Joseph Zhou.

The featured photo is “A Thousand Miles from Home” by Xu Joseph Zhou.

“7th Circuit” Exhibition

 February 4, 2026 – March 3, 2026

Canyon Country Community Center, 18410 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91351

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition, “7th Circuit,” by Yuliia Savenko on view now through March 3, 2026 at the Canyon Country Community Center (18410 Sierra Hwy). This photography exhibition invites viewers into a meditative visual space where familiar perceptions dissolve and meaning emerges through contemplation rather than certainty.

In “7th Circuit,” Savenko presents fog-shrouded urban landscapes that blur the boundary between reality and abstraction. Familiar city forms dissolve into mist, disrupting habitual ways of seeing and encouraging viewers to actively engage in the act of perception. As details fade, the mind fills in what is missing—transforming observation into a creative, introspective experience. The resulting images offer a meditative pause, where ambiguity replaces clarity and meaning emerges through personal reflection.

Yuliia Savenko, born in Ukraine, is a multidisciplinary artist working across photography, painting, video, and installation. Her practice explores vulnerability, presence and the space between inner experience and external reality. She holds a BFA in Photo-Video Art and Graphic Design from the Kyiv National University of Technology and Design and has exhibited extensively at major cultural institutions throughout Ukraine and Europe.

The image attached to this press release is titled “Urban Relic” by Yuliia Savenko.

“CalArts Showcase” Exhibition

First Floor Gallery, City Hall | November 2026 – February 2027

The City of Santa Clarita (City) is inviting current students and alumni of California Institute of the Arts to submit artwork for consideration in the upcoming “CalArts Showcase” juried exhibition, which will be on view at the First Floor Gallery in City Hall from November 2026 through February 2027. This exhibition highlights the innovative voices and creative excellence of CalArts artists, showcasing work across a wide range of disciplines and artistic approaches. From experimental practices and conceptual explorations to refined traditional techniques, “CalArts Showcase” celebrates the school’s legacy of pushing creative boundaries. All mediums are welcome, including but not limited to photography, painting, sculpture, and mixed media. Artists are invited to submit works that reflect their artistic identity, process, and vision. The exhibition offers a platform for emerging and established artists to share their work with the community while highlighting the impact of arts education on contemporary culture.

NOTE: This exhibition will be the City’s first to feature handmade three-dimensional artwork displayed in a secured glass display case located beneath the main entrance signage at City Hall. Submitted works must be fully handcrafted and fit within the display case interior (45.9″ L × 15″ W × 32.4″ H). With fixed glass shelves in place, individual artworks may be up to 10.5 inches tall. Each shelf supports up to 44 lbs.

“Animal Kingdom” Group Exhibition

June 24, 2026 – August 26, 2026

22421 Market St, Newhall, CA 91321

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition, Animal Kingdom,” on display at the Newhall Community Center (22421 Market Street) now through August 26, 2026. This juried exhibition celebrates the diversity, beauty and significance of animals, inviting viewers to explore everything from wildlife and beloved companions to symbolic and imaginative interpretations. Through photography, painting and mixed media, the exhibition reflects on the relationships between humans, animals and the natural world.

Among the featured artists is Jerry Cowart, an award-winning photographer and photographic artist whose work captures fleeting moments of beauty and meaning. “I am a storyteller, and through my photography, I tell many stories,” Cowart shares. “I hope you enjoy my stories and, in some way, they touch your heart.” His images reflect a lifelong passion for observing the world through a camera lens and preserving moments that might otherwise pass unnoticed. Through patience, curiosity and a deep appreciation for nature, Cowart’s work encourages viewers to slow down, embrace the present and recognize the beauty that surrounds them. The featured photo is “Gone Fishing” by Jerry Cowart.

The exhibiting artists include: Sharon Atwood, Sheri Carlson, Daniel Chayra, Ler Chang, Jerry Cowart, Helaine Cummins, Antony Dunn, Meghann Flaherty, Sajaul Fondevila Moreira Maior, Meryl Goudey, Keiji Ichikawa, Rajiv Khilnani, Daniella Krynsky, Ken Lee, Mark Micchio, Ali Peterson, Nancy Perkins, Tesha Smith, Jayme Sun Thomas, Hannah Thoreson, Nav Tombros and Lucien Van Oosten.

“Seascapes” Group Exhibition

First Floor Gallery, City Hall | May 20 – August 12 2026

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition, “Seascapes,” on display in the First Floor Gallery at City Hall (23920 Valencia Boulevard) now through August 12, 2026. This juried showcase celebrates the beauty and power of the ocean, inviting viewers to reflect on humanity’s connection to the sea. From expansive shorelines and rolling waves to marine life, harbors and underwater worlds, “Seascapes” explores the moods and visual poetry of the ocean. Featuring a variety of artistic mediums including painting, photography, mixed media and handcrafted three-dimensional works, this exhibition captures the ever-changing nature of coastal landscapes and seafaring imagery.

Among the featured artists is Jody Nelson, whose mixed-media artworks explore the emotional and atmospheric qualities of the ocean. “The ocean has always been a place of emotional reckoning — vast, shifting and deeply still all at once,” Nelson shares. Working through layered collage, paint and pastel, Nelson creates textured surfaces that evoke both memory and movement. She explains “I explore the tension between movement and quiet, between the weight of atmosphere and the luminosity beneath it”. Nelson’s process encourages the eye to wander across the piece. “Warm and cool tones pull against each other across bands of water, sky and cloud, creating a visual rhythm that invites the eye to travel and rest. These are landscapes of feeling as much as place,” Nelson explains.

The exhibiting artists include: Faye Abharian, Sono Arima, Don Belanger, Katy Bishop, Marita Braun, Elizabeth Chislett, Susan Contreras, Helaine Cummins, Eric Durante, Chelsea Estrada, Stephanie Garrett, Mardilan Lee Georgio, Meryl Goudey, Makenzie Haber, Ashley Hines, Keiji Ichikawa, Rosalie Kessing, Jessica L Lane, Allison Lauricella, Jennifer Tang Limon, Annie Marini-Genzon, Laurie Morgan, Jody Nelson, Nancy Perkins, Coty Schack, Jayme Sun Thomas, Babak Valizadeh, Barbara Weissbrod and Dakota Zumsteg.

The featured photo is “Low Tide” by Jody Nelson

“Dreamscapes” Exhibition

March 25, 2026 – June 24, 2026

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition,Dreamscapes,” on display at the Newhall Community Center (22421 Market Street) now through June 24, 2026. This juried exhibition explores the imaginative, surreal and subconscious worlds, inviting viewers into dreamlike environments shaped by memory, emotion and fantasy. From ethereal scenes and abstract visions to symbolic narratives and altered realities, “Dreamscapes” blurs the line between the real and the imagined while celebrating creativity without boundaries.

Among the featured artists is Taia Akulova, whose work reflects a deeply introspective and psychological approach to painting. “My work moves between abstraction and form, translating inner experience into visual language,” Akulova shares. “The paintings unfold like dreamscapes. Spaces where reality softens, time dissolves, and identity becomes fluid,” she explains. Rather than offering escape, Akulova invites viewers into an intimate encounter with inner worlds shaped by intuition, vulnerability and imagination. The featured photo is “Delicate Vibrations” by Taia Akulova.

The exhibiting artists include: Faye Abharian, John H Adkins, Taia Akulova, Georgette Arison, Elizabeth Chislett, John Cowan, Meghann Flaherty, Tim Song Jones, Allison Lauricella, Julia Markovich, Susan Magine, Katie McGuire, Mark Micchio, Jane Mick, Madeline Peng Miller, Danny Muñoz, Justin Poole, Alex Selkowitz, Jayme Sun Thomas, Zuri Timmons, and Stuart Vaughan.

“I’m a Part of Nature” Exhibition

January 28, 2026 – April 15, 2026

Valencia Public Library, 23743 Valencia Blvd, Valencia, CA 91355

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present “I’m a Part of Nature,” a solo exhibition by Keiji Ichikawa, on view at the Valencia Library (23743 Valencia Boulevard) now through Wednesday, April 15, 2026. This exhibition invites viewers to reflect on humanity’s deep connection to the natural world through expressive, color-driven paintings inspired by lived experience and observation.

“I’m a Part of Nature” features a series of recent acrylic works that interpret real landscapes through emotion, memory and sensory perception rather than literal realism. Keiji’s paintings are rooted in the belief that humans do not own nature, but belong to it—a philosophy shaped by his childhood in Tokyo during a period of heavy pollution and reinforced through a lifetime of travel and artistic exploration. Drawing from sketches and photographs made on-site, Keiji allows color, intuition and his “six senses” to guide each composition, resulting in works that balance structure with abstraction.

Born in Japan and later living in Paris before settling in Southern California, Keiji brings a global perspective to his practice. Influenced by his parents’ work as traditional kimono artisans, he uses a limited palette of primary colors to build layered, expressive scenes. Often including a small painted self-figure within each work, Keiji invites viewers into the space of the painting, encouraging contemplation and personal connection.

Website: www.atelierkeiji.com

Social Media: @atelierkeiji

“Saving Endangered Wildlife Through Fine Art” Exhibit

January 28, 2026 – March 30, 2026

Old Town Newhall Library, 24500 Main St. Santa Clarita, CA 91321

The City of Santa Clarita is pleased to present its latest art exhibition, Saving Endangered Wildlife Through Fine Art,” by Sherif Hakeem on view now through March 30, 2026 at the Old Town Newhall Library Branch (24500 Main Street). This exhibition features hyper-realistic charcoal drawings that spotlight endangered wildlife and invite viewers to reflect on humanity’s responsibility to protect the natural world.

Through meticulous detail and striking realism, Hakeem’s work captures wildlife not as illustrations, but as living beings deserving of care and preservation. By employing hyper-realism, his drawings often resemble photographs at first glance—an intentional approach that draws viewers closer and sparks deeper engagement with the subjects portrayed. Each piece encourages conversation not only about artistic technique, but about conservation, environmental loss and the urgent need to protect vulnerable species.

Hakeem’s mission extends beyond visual impact. Portions of artwork sales from the exhibition will benefit wildlife sanctuaries and conservation efforts, transforming each piece into both a work of fine art and a call to action. “I don’t see these animals as drawings,” Hakeem shares. “I see them as real beings who cannot speak for themselves, and my work is a way to give them a voice.”

Instagram: @sherifhakeem

Website: https://fineartforawareness.com

“Make Life Beautiful” Exhibition

January 20 – April 1, 2026

The MAIN, 24266 Main St, Santa Clarita, CA 91321

ANNOUNCEMENT: “Make Life Beautiful” by Aaron Koscelansky has been extended to April 1, 2026.

The City of Santa Clarita is proud to announce its latest art exhibition, “Make Life Beautiful” by Aaron Koscelansky on view at The MAIN (24266 Main Street) now through March 2, 2026.

“Make Life Beautiful” is a collection of intricate, psychedelic mandalas and geometric compositions designed to captivate the senses and encourage deep reflection. Each piece is hand-painted on canvas, ranging in size from small (6” x 6”) to large (36” x 48”), using acrylic, fluorescent, and UV-reactive paints. The artworks feature layered symmetry, vibrant color transitions, and hypnotic patterns that invite viewers into a meditative visual journey.

This exhibition explores the relationship between color, symmetry, and consciousness. Mandalas have long been symbols of unity and transformation, and this collection embraces that tradition while infusing it with a modern, psychedelic aesthetic. The use of fluorescent and UV-reactive paints adds an interactive dimension, allowing the works to shift and evolve under different lighting conditions. The pieces are designed to be uplifting and immersive, encouraging viewers to find moments of stillness and inspiration within the complexity of each design.

Q&A with Aaron Koscelansky

The title of your exhibition is “Make Life Beautiful.” What does that phrase mean to you personally and artistically?
“Make Life Beautiful comes from a project I started in Lancaster, CA. There was an open desert behind my apartment complex that would often attract illegally dumped items. I didn’t have the manpower or machinery to remove it all myself, but I did want a more appealing looking neighborhood. I started taking Posca markers on my walks through the desert and would find items to draw on. The idea was to take items that had been discarded, give them new life through creativity, and showcase them as art pieces, leaving them where they were dumped but with a new design. Intentionally making life around me more beautiful. I would leave my Instagram handle (@psychedelicwatermelon) on the pieces I created, and every once in a while, I would receive a message from someone who found an item I had drawn on and taken it home. With a little bit of intentionality, someone’s trash had become someone else’s art.”

Do you have a favorite piece in this exhibit?
“Wavelength of Bees.”

How do you begin your creative process?
“I find an item or canvas that interests me. They can be found, thrifted, or bought, and I’ll usually begin with choosing colors and painting a background. The bright backgrounds of my pieces come first, then I sit with the item/canvas until an idea arrives for what will become the focal point of the piece.”

Who or what are your biggest artistic influences?
“My artistic influences come from lived experience. I enjoy bright colors, symmetry, movies, astronomy, nature, stand up, podcasts and music. I love anything that brings a sense of novelty and joy to everyday life.”

Your work features intricate mandalas and geometric symmetry. What draws you to these forms?
“I’m a fan of psychologists like Jung. He, “felt certain that mandala drawing has the function of integrating psychological division, enhancing psychological harmony, and preserving personality integrity.” I started drawing mandalas after a very difficult period in my life. I also found it had a calming, stay-in-the-present effect. I found myself being able to work for up to five hours on a mandala piece with little to no breaks, and sometimes even without background noise, becoming more comfortable working in silence.”

Do you plan your geometric patterns ahead of time or allow them to evolve as you paint?
“I’ll usually draw the overall shape of the mandalas with a pencil before going in with markers or paint. However, the details within them, like dot work or highlights, evolve as I work.”

What tools or techniques do you use to achieve such precise symmetry and layering?
“I use a compass, or sometimes any circular household object to get the main proportions of the mandalas accurate. A ruler will sometimes be used for longer straight lines. Otherwise, all of my work is hand drawn without stencils, projectors, or VR.”

Your work uses fluorescent and UV-reactive paints. What inspired you to experiment with these materials?
“I enjoy artwork that can play with different light. I’ll use fluorescent, UV-reactive, and metallic elements in my paintings to help bring extra depth to the pieces; allowing the viewer to have different experiences with the same piece depending on which lighting is being used. Like a play-off of 1960’s psychedelic, neon posters.”

What do you hope viewers feel when they experience your work?
“A sense of joy, or a moment or relaxation. I find that children tend to be drawn to my artwork due to the bright colors or my periodic use of cartoon characters they might recognize. But overall, I just want to bring a little joy to the world through my creativity. Making the world a little bit more beautiful through art.”

What is the best piece of advice you have received as an artist?
“You should enjoy the process more than the destination. Fall in love with the journey not the result.”

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